Tuesday, November 20, 2007

With so much death, destruction, and evil in the world, I thought it would be nice for once to write about a story about something sad, yet heart-warming. It's not too often that we hear about the good things that our law enforcement do. A great number of people focus on putting down our officers of the law-they aren't doing enough, they are corrupt-blah, blah, blah....the list goes on.

They take an oath to protect all citizens. They risk their lives, see things that everyday people wouldn't wish to see in a million years. Shevy Wright took that oath also. He took the oath in front of the Chief of the Chandler (Arizona) Police Department, as any officer would-amid his fellow officers and other public officals. He had a uniform and other police equipment, as well as his own personal locker. His badge number was #1018. Yes, Shevy was a full-fledged member of the Chandler Police Department.

Shevy had one of his greatest wishes come true-to be a police officer. A nine-year-old little boy wished for one thing- to put away the bad guys just like his fellow officers.

It all started with a diagnosis of a brain tumor in December 2006, a Disney World trip provided by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and eventually the Chandler Police Department caught wind of Shevy's wish to be a police officer.

Sadly, Shevy lost his battle with his tumor. It was one "bad guy" that he couldn't catch, and that no one could protect him from.

Shevy's short life should serve as an example that the people that protect and serve us are human. They are hard-working individuals that really do want to make a difference, protect the community, and make wishes come true.

Rest In Peace Shevy, and may your memory continue to serve what "community" is all about.

If you are interested in sending your condolences to Shevy's family, there is an online guestbook available here.

I received an email from Louise Bashi, the press contact for CBS News about an exclusive episode of "48 Hours Mystery". This week's episode covers the Madeleine McCann case. While I haven't blogged about the case before this time, I thought you all would be interested in this episode.

48 HOURS EXCLUSIVE

“I MIGHT HAVE SEEN MADELEINE BEING ABDUCTED,”SAYS JANE TANNER, ONE OF THE McCANN DINNER COMPANIONS THE NIGHT OF MADELEINE’S DISAPPEARANCE

Private Investigator Says He is 100% Sure Maddie is Alive

“I never in a million years thought it could have been Madeleine…It was just complete shock and complete horror that I might have seen Madeleine being abducted,” says Jane Tanner in her first public interview to be broadcast on 48 HOURS MYSTERY reported by Peter Van Sant on Saturday, Nov. 17 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

In this exclusive interview, Tanner, one of the McCanns’ friends and dinner companions at The Tapas Restaurant the night of Maddie’s disappearance, describes catching a glimpse of an oddly dressed man carrying a child. “I just saw somebody walking across the top of the road…that person was carrying a child,” she recounts. “I could tell it was a child…I could see the pajamas and the feet.” Tanner initially thought nothing of it, but is now certain that she saw the abduction in progress.

Tanner goes on to say that she told police what she saw that same night. “As soon as the police arrived, they were brought to the apartment and I told them what I’d seen…And then the CID (Criminal Investigative Department) people arrived a little later I again told them exactly what I’d seen.” Her description even led to an artist’s rendering distributed by the family a month ago.

Tanner strongly supports the McCanns, saying they had nothing to do with Madeleine’s disappearance, “We know Kate and Gerry well. We know that there’s no way that what the media are saying is true. It’s just madness.”

Francisco Marco, a Spanish private investigator hired by a supporter of the McCanns, expresses a similar sentiment, claiming to have answers the whole world has been waiting for. “We’re 100% sure that she is alive. We are sure she was abducted. We are very, very close to finding the kidnapper.”

In addition to these explosive revelations, 48 HOURS has acquired information from a highly placed source in the investigation who discloses that Portuguese police are now not investigating homicide by Kate and Gerry McCann as a possibility. 48 Hours has also learned from police sources that the DNA is inconclusive and will not solve this case. 48 Hours also went undercover, hiring top US private investigator Joseph Moura, who has handled cases in Portugal . Moura unearthed eyewitness accounts that contradict both the local investigators’ and the McCanns’ versions of the events of May 3.

What really happened the night Madeleine McCann vanished? Are the McCanns and their friends telling the entire truth? Are authorities close to catching someone?

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

She would have and should have been able to celebrate her second birthday on November 11th. In 30 years, she probably would have been a beautiful, married woman with children of her own-celebrating her 32nd birthday. That was all taken away from little Taegen McKinney. Now her killer, Jose Garcia will have, at the very least, the next 30 years of his life taken away.

Jose Garcia pleaded guilty to child abuse in the stomping death of Taegen McKinney. He will be eligible for parole in the year 2037. In the year 2037, Jose Garcia will be 49 years old. No "spring chicken" by any stretch--but still young enough to live a productive life, when and if he gets out.

Taegen, on the other hand, as well as her family will never get that opportunity. Her Daddy will never get to walk her down the aisle, and give her away to her would-be husband. Her Mommy will never get the chance to give her advice or hold her when she's mending a broken heart. There will be no groundings for sneaking in late from a date. There will be no praise for good grades, no punishment for bad grades. All these moments--good, bad, and otherwise--have been taken away.

In September, I had the pleasure to go to Sahuarita, AZ and help out with the rally for Taegen's Law. It was an experience that I will never forget. I am grateful to have been able to help out in any way to honor Taegen's memory.

Taegen's family have a website in her memory. There is also a petition for tougher laws for child abusers and killers. Even though Taegen's killer is where he belongs, her family still needs help from everyone. This shouldn't have to happen to another family.